A British-American couple who swapped their life in the US for Yorkshire say they "know how Harry and Meghan feel" as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to move back to the UK.
Tom Bateman, 35, and his American wife Britney, 36, have spent the past six weeks settling into life in Britain with their four children after 17 years living in the US. As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare for their return, the couple say they understand the emotional pull of returning home - and the challenges of leaving America behind.
A pull towards home and culture
Tom, who was born in England, says he can particularly understand Harry's desire to be around the people and culture he grew up with.
"It was a huge pull for me to be back where I am from with the culture I know, be with my parents, my brothers, my people," the dad-of-four said. "I'm sure he loves California. I love California."
Harry and Meghan moved to California in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties and have since raised their two children, Archie and Lilibet, in the US. But Tom says having children can make people reconsider where they want to put down roots, particularly as they get older.
Family roots and generational ties
The Batemans' four children, aged between six and 12, were all born in California, but Tom wanted them to experience the country and culture he grew up with.
"As your kids start to get older, I want them to experience what I experienced but in those places," Tom said. "You tend to convert back to what you know and so you go to your childhood. There is something about generational activities and connectedness - they have all done it as a kid and pass it on."
Tom and Britney previously lived in California before moving to Idaho in search of a more affordable lifestyle. Tom had a successful corporate marketing career and was earning more than $200,000 (£150,000) a year at the height of it. But he eventually felt "trapped by success" and decided he wanted to return to Yorkshire, taking an 80 per cent pay cut to work with his dad Phil, 64, teaching bike lessons to children for £30,000 a year.
Missing California's coast and climate
Now Britney, who was born in America, says she understands that returning to Britain could be a very different experience for Meghan. While Tom has been longing for British culture, Britney admits there are parts of California she misses herself - particularly the coast and the weather.
"For me, even living in Idaho, I missed the coast, the sea. I love the Cali coast," she said. "We were in Whitby a week ago and I had never really spent much time in England."
"Visiting near the sea and having that scenery, it felt more similar to Cali and so I felt better," Britney added. "I think she could miss it."
Britney says the Californian climate and lifestyle will be particularly difficult to leave behind. "She is not going to have a Mediterranean climate," she said. "75 degrees and blue skies throughout all days - it creates a slow down culture which is nice."
Settling in and emotional upheaval
The couple say they have already experienced the strange emotional limbo of leaving one country behind while not yet feeling completely settled in another. Six weeks after arriving, Britney says Britain still sometimes feels like an extended holiday.
"It's yes and no on being settled," she said. "We know we live here now but because things have felt as they did in the past, it doesn't feel different."
"When we get our own house that will make things feel really real," Britney added. "It will have routine and it will feel better. It will have that feeling that it's not vacation."
The family are also missing friends and relatives in America, with Britney describing the move as an emotional upheaval despite knowing it was the right decision.
Britney said: "It's a big emotional uprooting even if you want to do it and you knew your partner did it for you. The dust kicked up takes a long time to settle but we are getting there."
And Tom says the hardest part of a transatlantic family is knowing that whichever country you choose, someone will be left behind.
"We are fully supportive of moving back - both of us want to be close to our family," he said. "Transatlantic relationships means one side of the family is really going to miss out."
"It was the same when I was there, my family was missing out. Now Britney's parents are missing out. You have to make that move where you share it in ways you can."
Watching Harry and Meghan's next chapter
Tom believes the desire to return to Britain can become particularly strong in your thirties, when people start looking beyond careers and towards family and childhood.
"People from England have a stronger pull as they get older," he said. "There's some kind of magical mystery about the UK that comes out in your thirties and says, 'Come out'."
And after making the move themselves, Tom and Britney say they will be watching Harry and Meghan's next chapter with particular interest. "I love California, but there is something about wanting to be around your people," Tom said. "Home never leaves."
